Chattanooga, TN (April 27, 2016) --- The Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Chattanooga State received $376,572, from the Governor’s special equipment fund in 2015 to expand its Industrial Maintenance Technician program into Marion County. The program is now accepting students for the 2016 summer term that begins May 13.

The Industrial Maintenance Technician program, taught by Jeff Long, will run from 7:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m., Monday-Friday at the Regional Skills Center located at 426 Battle Creek Rd. Graduates of the program leave with the ability to install, maintain and troubleshoot industrial mechanical drives; fluid power systems; industrial electrical control systems; process logical control systems; and fabricate and repair industrial equipment.

“Consistently every year, graduates from the program have nearly a 100-perent placement rate in jobs related to their field of study,” states Dr. Jim Barrott, vice president of technology and director of TCAT. “Starting salaries range from $17 to $23 an hour with benefits,” he adds.

Governor Haslam’s Drive to 55 is not just a mission for higher education, but also a mission for workforce and economic development, a drive to reduce unemployment and improve quality of life. Students who wish to enroll in the Industrial Maintenance Technician program may be eligible for free tuition through TN Reconnect, for adults, or TN Promise, for graduating high school seniors.

For more information about the Chattanooga State’s Industrial Maintenance Technician program, contact Julie Bennett, Kimball site director at 423-837-1327, email Julie.bennett@chattanoogastate.edu  or visit https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/industrial-maintenance-technician. To view a video about the program, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-95nUZuTMqc.